Top 89 Quotes & Sayings by Derrick Lewis

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American athlete Derrick Lewis.
Last updated on September 17, 2024.
Derrick Lewis

Derrick James Lewis is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he currently holds the record for most knockouts in UFC history. A professional competitor since 2010, Lewis has also competed for Bellator MMA and Legacy FC, where he was the Heavyweight Champion. As of February 14, 2022, he is #5 in the official UFC heavyweight rankings.

You've really got to stay ready 24/7. You really can't get ready because there's no telling. They'll call you short notice to fight anyone so you really have to stay ready.
For sure, I would love to fight in Houston.
That's usually the way I am - I don't care what my opponent can do. I just focus on myself. — © Derrick Lewis
That's usually the way I am - I don't care what my opponent can do. I just focus on myself.
I just really want to put the past behind me, because it makes me angry thinking about it. But it's also the reason I've made it this far in my career. It's like, built up in me. It's what I think about when I fight. My childhood.
I just feel that all the top fighters in the world are making all the money.
I've been having people doubt me all my life.
Basically, I guess they just thinking I've been winning my fights just by luck. I just think I've been winning my fights on heart.
I believe the tough fights bring out the better fighter in myself.
I used to only train 30 minutes a day.
I don't care what people think.
I don't care if I ever fight for the belt or get the belt.
I don't even train for these fights. I'm not mad when people say that because it's true.
That would be great if I could be a role model or inspiration to those who have been in my shoes before.
As long as they pay me good, that's all I care about. — © Derrick Lewis
As long as they pay me good, that's all I care about.
I don't care if I am ever remembered in this sport for anything.
I just like being in fun fights.
I'm an optimistic guy.
I ain't trying to fight for no title.
I gotta work on my overall game.
I look at all my opponents, and they could be something else. They could go out and get a normal, regular job. I look at myself and I can't do that. I have a strike on my back. I can't have a normal job. So, I've got to fight for everything I've got.
I think Cormier is gonna come out and try to wrestle me, try to get me tired, and try to push the pace. I know he might not say that I'm on his level but I think I am and he thinking that I'm not, really.
I don't know how to do takedowns.
You eat salad and you're hungry the next 30 minutes and you're hungrier from when you ate the damn salad.
I really don't punch with my left hand anyways.
I believe I get the belt then I'll get the money. I'm not trying to be the best fighter in the world. It's all about the cheddar.
I have a couple of properties. Bought some houses and just rent them out.
I know Cormier is a wrestler so you really got to get them hips down on him so I've been working them hips really good.
I've been in that situation three or four times before where I'm losing the fight - the fight seems almost over with - and I knew I had to finish him and stop playing possum as much.
I don't care where I'm at in the heavyweight division. As long as I win enough, so they keep me. That's about it.
The guys in the top five, they're good everywhere. Me, I'm just almost one-dimensional.
It's all the stuff I've been through in my life. From family struggles, people doubting me, things I went through as a child and going to prison, they all played a factor in who I am today. It really made me a better person. Going through those situations can make or break you as a human being.
I throw so hard because I sit and wait for that perfect moment.
I've been through so much stuff that I hope even my enemies wouldn't have to go through.
If I'm the champion, the whole UFC division should be ashamed of themselves for a guy that had no damn skills being the champion. They should all just go relocate somewhere.
My heart outweighs all the talent. If they've got more talent, I believe that my heart will still overcome that. You've got to have heart to step inside the octagon anyway.
You know, once you have the belt you want to be less active, fighting once a year.
There's nothing I really want to accomplish. I already set my family up pretty good right now.
It's a job to me, basically. I'm not trying to be the best fighter in the world or nothing like that. I don't come in trying to think I am the best fighter. I don't care about none of that. It's just a job to me.
I made my third parole and I believe if I had made it the first time, I wouldn't be here today. I still would've been out there doing stupid stuff. — © Derrick Lewis
I made my third parole and I believe if I had made it the first time, I wouldn't be here today. I still would've been out there doing stupid stuff.
That's what really gets me going, thinking about my past. I think about all the tough times and bad times I've had in my life and I bring all that into the Octagon. That's only because it's hard going in there trying to fight someone who didn't do anything to you.
I'm just going to keep fighting, try to stay active as much as possible.
I like to fight tough fights.
I don't want to fight once a year. I like fighting every other month.
It's like I say all the time, it's the heavyweight division. It doesn't matter if the guys a black belt or if he's a world-class boxer. We still have a 50-50 chance.
The one thing about me, if it is a 15-minute fight, I'm fighting every one of them 15 minutes. And if it's a 25-minute fight, I'll be fighting all 25 until the bell rings.
I grew up watching my mom and my stepdad fight.
You have 20 fights, you should know what it takes to get yourself ready. If you don't feel like you're ready, you let your coach know 'hey we need to work on a little bit more of this.'
It would be cool to let people know that it doesn't matter what kind of background you have in your past, that you can still make something out of your life.
I've been in deep waters a bunch of times in my fights. — © Derrick Lewis
I've been in deep waters a bunch of times in my fights.
I know I only need one punch to knock any guy out.
Since I was probably eight years old, just about everyday, all the way until I was 14 or 15 years old, just about everyday my mom and my stepdad would roll around in the living room fighting.
You've got to try to find some type of mental edge on your opponent.
Everyone else is a mixed martial artist. I'm not a mixed martial artist, I'm a brawler.
The only reason I want to climb up the rankings - beating the champion and beating guys in the top five - those are the guys that get the endorsements and get the most money and get paid the most. That's the only reason why.
I speak my mind too much, and the UFC probably don't really like that. But I really don't care.
I go into every fight with a bad back and overweight and a damn-near diabetic.
I really don't like watching women fights.
I know just about everything that really goes on with domestic violence.
I set some goals for myself. I really want to run through this whole heavyweight division.
If I was really trying to be the best fighter in the world, I would be in the best shape and taking it more serious but I'm not.
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